Jason Johannisen finds place in AFL history books after not knowing about game not so long ago
JASON Johannisen’s parents left South Africa for Australia 16 years ago with their son showing potential in rugby. Now, they’re hooked on AFL and their boy is a Grand Final star.
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WHEN Eldrid and Sonya Johannisen left South Africa for a better life in Australia 16 years ago, they knew nothing about the native game.
Even after they settled in Perth, they didn’t really get the hang of Australian Rules for a number of years as their son, Jason, initially showed potential in rugby.
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“We knew nothing whatsoever (about AFL),” a tearful Sonya explained.
“But we’ve grown to love the game so much.
“He (Jason) has always been a sports person, he always loved sport and he got into rugby initially but then tried out footy and loved it.
“He just took to it and hasn’t looked back. There was a point where he had to make a decision between rugby and footy and he choose footy.
“Since then he hasn’t looked back.”
The Western Bulldogs are happy he made that decision given it was the 23-year-old former rookie list player who ignited them to a historic grand final victory.
In a tight contest, Johannisen got the nod as the Norm Smith Medallist and admitted he felt numb when his name was read out.
“I’m speechless really, to see all the other players who have won this award, I am truly honoured, I just can’t believe it,” he said.
“The club took a massive gamble on me as a young kid. They saw a bit of potential and to just play my first game was a dream come true.
“I am so grateful for the opportunity this club has given me and I’ve just tried to repay the faith.
“I just went numb (when it was read out). I couldn’t believe it as a kid you just dream of playing in a grand final and winning it.
“It’s a special moment I will look back on.”
His parents and younger sister, Simone, still live in Perth and they weren’t surprised at how laid-back Jason was when they caught up the night before the biggest game of his life.
“He was cool and calm when we saw him last night and he was really relaxed,” Sonya said. “He treated it as just another game.”
Eldrid added: “I have never seen him angry, that’s not him.”
While Swans ball magnet Josh Kennedy was the dominant player on the ground in the opening half, it was Johannisen who was getting off the leash for the Dogs.
That continued in the second half with the speed machine providing the run and carry that has been a hallmark of his game off halfback all year.
He finished as the Dogs leading possession winner with 33 which included seven marks and nine inside 50s.
Johannisen looked to have kicked the match winning goal at the 18-minute mark of the final quarter but a score review showed Swans defender Jeremy Laidler had touched it a millimetre before the whole ball crossed the line.
“It’s all good,” he said about the review. “I’ve got two medals now so it doesn’t matter.”
Dogs coach Luke Beveridge said the beauty of Johannisen was the concern he placed in the mind of the opposition.
“He causes an enormous amount of concern for the opposition with his speed,” he said.
“You have to start thinking ‘what do we do with Johannisen?’ He is a key player and he does it as well as anyone in the competition.”
Johannisen is the godfather of teammate Jake Stringer’s son and cradled him in his lap at Friday’s grand final parade.
“Mate, he is a star. He deserves every little bit of praise,” Stringer said. “The Norm Smith, everything he gets he deserves. It’s just amazing.
“He always looks for me — he couldn’t find me today but he was looking for me.”
What Jason Johannisen did find was a place in the history books of a sport he knew nothing about not that long ago.
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